Who Is Emmanuel Zidor? American Idol 2014 Contestant Background Info

Even though his audition got off to a rocky start — nearly giving Jennifer Lopez a fright as he crawled into the room singing — Emmanuel Zidor's real voice won the judges over as he auditioned for American Idol 2014 (aka Season 13) during the San Francisco tryouts on the January 16 episode.

Emmanuel, overcome with emotion, then revealed that had to endure a lot of haters in his life — including his seventh-grade teacher, sadly. "He told me, 'You will never be on that show,'" he recounted.

The 24-year-old elaborated with theMiami Herald: "I used to be insecure about my voice — I was bullied when I was younger. When I told Jennifer Lopez my story she had tears in her eyes, at least I think she did. It was great to be vindicated."

And who does this potential Idol idolize? We're talking Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Beyoncé, whom he says "just embodies what an entertainer is."

And to think that this guy is a "airport ramp agent," according to his intro on the show. Just goes to show that even the guy loading baggage into your airplane could be the next Idol.

After all, as revealed in the February 12 episode, he's now in the Top 31. Up, up, and away!